Sheet-metal shovel



Patented @et Z, 1923..`

aar/rusia. Enviar, or nn'raorr, MICHIGAN.

SHEET-METAL srrovnn Annina/tion filed April 1,

To @ZZ whom t ma'yco/V/tem: n Be it known that I, JAMES M. ERVIN, a

i citizen of the .United States of America, re-

siding at Detroit, in thecounty or `Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements 1n Sheet Metal Shovels, of Vwhich the following isa specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The usual practice inthe manutactureot small shovels, and more' particularly" to those known' as fire shovels, has'V been to blank out the sheet metal and then form the blank into ythe vdesired shape to provide a shovel and integral handle, but, in order to secure the necessary strength, it has been found necessary to use a comparatively heavy gauge of metal, and further, as said devices have been formed from a single blank, a comparatively large sheet of metal has beennecessary.

Theobject of the present invention is to so form up or shape a device of thisv character,r as to givethe desired strengthpwithout the necessity vfor employing sheet metal of heavy gauge, and further to so construct the device that comparatively small pieces or scrap material maybe utilized.

It is also an object to 'provide' certain other new and useful features in the construction, all as hereinafter more fully described. Y

l/Vith the above and other ends in view, the invent-ion consistsin tapering the flange or rim of the blade'into a tubular handle and strengthening the union of the handle and blade, by a hollow rib whichtorms a continuation of the tubular` handle, projecting forwardly in the connection with the blade within'the area` of the blade inclosed by its flange;

Thenivention further consists in providing a construction wherein theblade and handle portions arev :termed from separate blanks and which parts,` when formed up, are 'so united as to provide a very strong and rigid connectionV between the blade and handle portions.

The invention also consists in certain other new and useful features in the conf struction, all as hereinafter more iully. described and more particularly pointed. out

1922. semaine. 548,652.

in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in' which-,

Figurev l 1s a plan viewv of a complete shovel illustrative of the invention;

Fig. 2 is aninverted plan view of Fig. 1,

with an end portion or" the shovel blade broken away to shorten the ligure;

Fig, 3 is ,ai longitudinal sectional detailv substantially upon the 'line 't3-'Slot Fig. 2; Figa is an end elevation ot Figs. l and 2, showing the upper orhandle end vof the shovel with thehandle in section,

5 is a sectionalfdetail substantially vupon the lineof Fig. l; and

-Fig. 6 is a detail planwview of a portion of ashovel illustrating tion.

In order to secure the necessarystrength a. modified construe` to prevent bending and. distortion, particu-.

larly where the handle unites with rthe blade, .ithasbeen found necessary to; use sheet metal of a heavy gauge. norder to secure lightness and cheapness, thepresent invention advances a, construction which is suoli Aas to provide for the 'use of metal 'of 1 -'comparatively light gauge, the manner of forming the parts providing addedstiness.

and strength. Y 1

In the manufacture of certain. devices, :as for instance Vauton'iobilfe` bodies, large quantities of scrapl material is produced. This material is usually of a comparatively light gauge of metal and the'pieces are toosmall .to provide a blank from 'which an' entire shovel may be'formed. i The present invention contemplates the utilization of thisy scrap material and in order that the small pieces may be used, a construction isj'con. ternplated whereinthe blade portion of the shovel andthe handle portion are formed from separate blanks and so made that, when assembled, these parts are securely united and interlocked in a-,inannei-"to give a very strong and rigid construction, with'- o'ut the necessity Jfor welding or otherwise intimately uniting'the parts.

ln Fles. l to 5 inclusive of the drawinff a construction is shown in which `the, blade '1 `witliits integral upturned flange or rimj 2, is formed from a single sheetvor blank of metal, and the tubular handleportion 3 is eeV lformed fromja separa-te blank, the forward the flanges end of the handle being extended and curved laterally to form a semi-tubular rib 4l with lateral-ly extending flange portions adapted to interlock with the, flange 2 on the blade. To firmly secure the handle portiony to the blade, the lower or inner edges of' 5 are turned outwardly or forwardly to form an integral bottom wall or flange 6 adapted to rest upon the rear or heel portion of the blade l andV this bottom wall is provided with a pair of' lugs 7 which are extended to interlock the parts. The upper edges of thel laterally extending flanges 5l ofthe handle are turned over and formeddown upon the upper edge portion ofthe rim 2 oi the blade, as at interlocked Ywith the upper edge of the-upstanding flange 2 of the blade,lthus together' with'the lues `7 iirmlv locking the handle i Y C: e in to the blade without thenecessity for intimately uniting'the parts,"as by riveting. welding, etc. In uniting the handle with Vtheblade, the shovel is'place'd within la suitable die and the parts are forced to place underiavery heavy pressure, thisY die being so formed as to form or raise the portions l0 of the blade adjacent to the slots 8 above the plane of thebody of the bladeto perf vmit the tongues or lugs 7 to lie within the recess thus formed at the lower side of the blade 'and give a` smooth bottom surface, as clearlyfshown in Fig. 5.

rlfhe semi-tubular extension 4 of the handleV 3` provides a hollow strengthening rib projecting inwardly from the back wall or rear portion of the flange 2 of the blade and by reason of the semi-tubular form of this rib,"a very strong and rigid connection of the handleto the blade is secured atthe pointV where sheet metal structures of this character are the Weakest, this hollowv rib forming an arched bracing where VYthe handle unites withthe blade to prevent this portion from bending under the load applied to the blade and power for lifting` the load applied to the handle.

ln Fig. 6 of the drawing, a construction is rillustrated wherein the blade and handle are formed from a single sheet metal blank, the flange 2 on the blade l tapering at the rear Y Y end ofthe blade, intothe semif'tubular rib V portion .1l which` 1s an extension of the tubular handle, said rib curving downwardly or laterally from the end of the tubular portion of the handle and projectingfwithin the area enclosed bythe rim or flange 2 of the blade.V ln thisconstruction itis the semitubular strengthening rib fl which provides the necessary stillness to prevent the handle from bending'at the point wherefit unites Vwith theblade andits rim. The particular hollow or semi-tubular form` of' the rib exthrough slots 8 in the blade 9. rlhe flanges 5 ofthe handle which are integral with and taper Vinto the tubular handle 8,*are thusfirmly tension of the handle is the `construction which gives rigidity and stiffness to the delido not, therefore, limit isA 1. As a new article of manufacture, a

sheet metal shovel comprising a blade portion, having va flange anda tubularhandle portion, said tubular handlejportion being formed witha hollow extension and later-1 ally extending flanges integral with the hollow extension to engageover theange of said blade portion, said laterally extending flanges forming means for securing the han dle portion tothe blade portion.V

2. A sheet metal shovel comprising a blade l i portionhaving` an upstanding edge flange and a handle portion comprising a tubular handle provided with a hollow extension hav'inof laterall extendin flanges enea ino h i l')V H H the flange of the blade portion,`Y said hollow extension forming a strengthening rib projecting b'eyondthe flangeofthe blade portion and secured to theV blade insiderthe flange. Y

3. A sheet metal shovel comprising a blade portion formed with an upstanding edge flange and with slots adjacent the heel of the blade, and a handle portionfcomprising Y a'tubular handle'formed with a hollow semitubular `extension provided with laterallyV extending'flangesto engage and interlock with the flange Vofthe 'blade and provided with lugs to engage the 'slots in the bladeu l 4l. A sheet metal 'shovel comprising ablade having an upstanding edge flange, a tubular handle Vformed with Ya hollow laterally bent Vend extension with integral late rally` j extending flanges having their upper edges bent over the `edge of the blade flange,. and means for securing 'the handle'portion to the heel portionof the blade inwardly of its upstanding flange. y l Y 5. A sheet metal shovel Vcomprising a blade formed from a sheet metalY blank with an upstanding edge flange, and a-handle portion formed from a sheetV metal Yblank and j formed into tubular form, with aA laterallyv bent hollow semi-tubular end portion having integral laterally extending flanges, said flanges being formedto interlock with the i' upsta-nding flangeH 'of the YVblade and said handle portion and' blade being `formed Yto interlock adjacent the heel portionof the blade. Y

f6. A sheet'metal shovel comprising a blade.

with an upstanding ledge flange andlpro- `portion formed from a sheet metalblank vided with an opening adjacent its heel portion 'inwardly of said flange and a tubular handle portion formed from a sheet metal blank with a hollow laterally bent end p0rtion provided with laterally extending lntesaid bottom endyvall being formed With aV i lug to engage the opening in the blade.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

, JAMES M. ERVIN; Witnesses: f

ANNA M. DoRR, LEWIS E. FLANDERS. 

